Code of Ethics

1. Breeding Guidelines

1.1 Clearances
It shall be required that any member owned or leased animal used in breeding shall first receive radiographic clearance by a qualified radiologist from a recognized veterinarian university or University of Orthopaedic Foundation, certifying the animal as having normal hips. This clearance shall be required of the sire and dam of the litter including prospective dam which is brought to a member-owned stud dog. No breeders will knowingly use a dog with abnormal bone structure for breeding purposes. In addition to hips, breeders shall obtain heart, eye and thyroid clearances on each Dane bred.

1.2 Responsibilities of the Owner of the Stud Dog

It is required that a male be at least 18 months of age prior to being used as a stud.

The stud dog owner shall explain and discuss the financial and moral obligations the breeder has to the puppies ie.

i) Food and Supplements

ii) Veterinary Work: immunizations, worming, cropping

A stud dog owner may see the litter in order to protect his own interests, unless prohibited by extreme distance.

1.3 Responsibilities of the Owner of the Brood Bitch

It is required that a bitch be at least 24 months of age and have had one season prior to begin bred.

The owner of the bitch shall be prepared to meet any expenses however unexpected due to whelping and raising a litter ie.

It is recommended that the owner of the bitch shall cull or agree to place non-breeding contracts on all pet puppies.

The breeder is required to give complete written diet care, instructions and pedigree with each puppy sold from the litter and make themselves available to the buyer for suggestions and advice. It is recommended that no puppies leave for a new home prior to seven (7) weeks of age.

1.4 False Advertising
It shall be the responsibility of Club members not to use false or misleading canine advertising.

1.5 Breeding “Very Serious Faults”
It shall be the responsibility of the Club members to ensure that no Great Dane with “VERY SERIOUS FAULTS” as defined in the Canadian Kennel Club Standard shall be used for breeding.

1.6 Colour Breeding Guidelines
Those combinations of colour (as defined by the official Canadian Kennel Club Standard of Great Danes) which are to be bred together shall be as follows:

Fawn to be bred to fawn or brindle, which have only fawn or brindle behind each parent for three (3) generations and, if possible, no appearance of any other colour for six (6) generations.

Brindle to be bred to brindle or fawn, which have only fawn or brindle behind each parent for three (3) generations and, if possible, no appearance of any other colour for six (6) generations.

Harlequin to be bred to harlequin or harlequin breeding, which have only harlequin breeding behind each parent for three (3) generations and, if possible, no appearance of any other colour for six (6) generations.

Black, which are black-blue bred to be bred to blacks or blues which are three (3) generations of black-blue breeding behind each parent and, if possible, no appearance of any other colour for six (6) generations.

Blue to be bred to blue or black, which are three (3) generations of black-blue breeding behind each parent and, if possible, no appearance of any other colour for six (6) generations.

Harlequin to be bred to black which have only black or harlequin breeding behind each parent and, if possible, no appearance of any other colour for six (6) generations.

Black to be bred to black or harlequin breeding which have only black or harlequin breeding behind each parent or to blue which has only blue or blue-black breeding behind each parent for three (3) generations and, if possible, no appearance of any other colour for six (6) generations.

1.7 Physical Abnormalities
Any Great Dane Club of Canada member having a litter of puppies in which there is any puppy or puppies with physical abnormalities (ie. cleft palate, deafness or blindness) shall destroy or cause to be destroyed that puppy or puppies prior to the animal’s fifth week birth date. The method used to destroy any such puppy shall be by humane lethal injection by licensed veterinarian.

1.8 Moral Obligation
Every member of the Great Dane Club of Canada has a moral obligation to every puppy of their breeding (sire or dam) which becomes a ward of any rescue organization or humane society.